Sports

AMMAN —The third round of the Speed Test Championship kicks off on Friday at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan racetrack with the participation of 33 drivers headed by Mohammed Tayseer, who is topping the standings with 47 points.

Tayseer is followed closely by Ayman Najjar, with 45 points, while Husam Salem in third spot has 40 points and Ghaith Wraikat, with 38 points, comes in fourth. Najjar, who won the second round after clocking 1m14.57s, will try to beat Tayseer and go up the standings.

Tayseer will exert a lot of pressure to stay in the lead which may give veteran driver Salem an opportunity to win first place.

“We expect a very heated round between the three top places, but this does not mean that other drivers will not have a good chance in the final heat which gathers 13 best drivers for the advanced places,” Othman Naseef, Jordan Motorsport CEO, told The Jordan Times. “We hope that everyone is ready to take up the challenge and enjoy,” he added.

BARCELONA – Lionel Messi has agreed to stay at FC Barcelona until 2021 in a deal that all but commits the star striker to playing out the rest of his top-flight career at the Spanish giants.

The megastar who joined Barcelona as a teenager 17 years ago will remain at the club until he is 34 under the new deal, the Catalan club announced on Wednesday, ending months of speculation about the future of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“The deal will be signed in the coming weeks, when Messi returns to the team for pre-season training,” the club said in a statement, as the 30-year-old enjoyed his honeymoon just days after he wed his childhood sweetheart in Argentina.

Messi has hinted in the past that he would like to return in the future to Argentina to play for his very first club, CA Newell’s Old Boys in his hometown of Rosario, where he wed last week. But he has also said that his priority is to win more honours with Barca, the club he has called his home since he was 13.

No financial details of Messi’s new contact were disclosed, but Spain’s Marca sports daily reported on Tuesday that the deal included a 300-million-euro ($340-million) termination clause.

Under his current contract, due to run out in June 2018, Messi earns around 20 million euros a year in salary, according to Spanish media — and this did not include millions of euros in revenues earned from ads and performance-linked bonuses.

Messi joined FC Barcelona in 2000 when he was just 13 years old in the youth training centre.

“He made his first team debut at just 16 years of age in a friendly against FC Porto, before making his debut the following season against Espanyol at 17,” the club said in a statement.

“Shortly after, he scored his first senior goal with a clever lob against Albacete at the Camp Nou.”

The deal announcement is likely to reassure fans and members of FC Barcelona, which has had a disappointing season by the club’s own high standards.

The club was eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter finals by Juventus, and came second behind arch-rivals Real Madrid in La Liga, though Barca did win the Copa del Rey.

Leading scorer

Messi’s contract extension consolidates the much-feared “MSN” striking trio which also includes Brazil’s Neymar and Uruguay’s Luis Suarez.

Both have also renewed their contracts until 2021.

With 507 goals scored in 583 official matches, Messi is the club’s all-time leading scorer and is widely considered the world’s best player along with Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, his Real Madrid rival.

“He’s the best player I’ve ever seen on the pitch,” said Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona’s new coach, of Messi.

Now 30, Messi could have been tempted by other horizons — having been courted by clubs like PSG and Manchester City — particularly as he was found guilty last year of tax fraud in Spain.

But he has lived in Catalonia since his early teens, and currently resides in Barcelona with his now-wife Antonella Roccuzzo, their son Thiago, four, and Mateo, one — both of whom were born in Spain.

And Messi himself said in May that his aim as a footballer was to “try and win the most titles possible” with FC Barcelona.

AMMAN — Jordan will host the 14th Arab Junior Volleyball Championships from July 27 — August 5, the Jordan Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday.

Eight teams have been divided into two groups with the host nation to be joined by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Palestine in Group A, while Oman, the UAE, Bahrain and Iraq will compete in Group B. Palestine will meet Jordan in the opener on July 27 at 7pm.

The Jordan Volleyball Federation met under the presidency of HRH Princess Ayah Bint Feisal to discuss the latest preparations for the championship, and said that they are on track to hosting a successful event.

LONDON — Roger Federer pleaded with Grand Slams not to be panicked into reducing matches to best-of-three sets after injured players were accused of taking the money and running on Tuesday.

Federer reached the Wimbledon second round when Alexandr Dolgopolov quit when trailing 6-3, 3-0 after just 43 minutes on Centre Court complaining of an ankle injury.

Earlier, title rival Novak Djokovic booked his second round spot in just 40 minutes when Martin Klizan, suffering from a calf injury, retired at 6-3, 2-0 down.

It meant that the Centre Court crowd had seen just 83 minutes of action involving the two men who have won 10 Wimbledon titles between them.

“I feel for the crowd,” said Federer. “They’re there to watch good tennis, proper tennis. At least they see the two of us who gave it all they had. They saw other players that tried at least.”

Five men have retired from the first round — on Monday, Victor Troicki quit after just 20 minutes.

First round losers all receive £35,000 ($45,220).

There is a rule on the main ATP Tour, but not at the Slams, that an injured player can give up his place to a ‘‘lucky loser’’ from qualifying while keeping the prize money.

The thinking behind the move is to preserve the integrity of a tournament and prevent fans from feeling short-changed.

But Federer does not want to see the Slams opt for the best-of-three sets format rather than the traditional best-of-five.

‘Give up their spot’

“I hope it doesn’t happen. But I believe that more players clearly would finish their matches,” said Federer who is bidding for a record eighth Wimbledon title.

“A player should not go on court if he knows he should not finish. The question is, did they truly believe they were going to finish. 

“If they did, I think it’s okay that they walk on court. Otherwise, I feel they should give up the spot. 

“The ATP has adjusted its rule. Maybe the slams should have a look at what they could do for the players to make it just a little bit easier.”

Federer believes that players who insist on competing in the first round despite obvious physical ailments should not necessarily be damned.

“For some, they just want to be out there because they feel like miracles happen: maybe the other guy retires, or maybe the other guy is carrying an injury. 

“If I win, I have a day off, maybe I will feel better on Thursday. All these things play into the equation as well. Don’t forget those things as well. Could be rain, come back the next day. You never know what the player’s motives are.”

Djokovic said he backed the ATP rule being used at the Slams but also refused to criticise opponents who fail to finish.

“If you walk out on the Centre Court, there is a responsibility. I’m sure they tried their best, but it is what it is,” said the Serb.

Federer now has 85 match wins at the All England Club, passing the mark he shared with Jimmy Connors.

He also hit his 10,000th career ace in the eighth game of the first set on Tuesday, as he set up a clash against Dusan Lajovic of Serbia for a place in the last 32.

The 35-year-old Federer, seeking a 19th Grand Slam title and bidding to become the oldest champion at the All England Club, played down the tag of favourite for a trophy he last lifted in 2012.

“Just because I haven’t played the clay court season doesn’t make me the favourite,” he said.

You would think that somebody who has played well, like Rafa [Nadal] on the clay courts, he would be feeling really good about his chances here and I’m sure he does feel that way. 

“The same for [defending champion] Andy Murray, same for Djokovic.

“Everybody’s got a chance to win Wimbledon and for me it’s no different. I already achieved my dream to be back here healthy. Now we’ll see how far I can go.”

AMMAN — The Jordan Golf Federation (JGF) is organising one of its biggest tournaments of the year this Friday at the Bisharat Golf Club for the Ramadan delayed Independence Day Championship.

A full field of players are anticipated for the event which will played as a Texas Scramble format featuring players from a number of nationalities.

This will be the first tournament organised by the JGF since it was given full federation status by the Jordan Olympic Committee earlier in the summer. Players will have a shotgun 8:30am start, meaning they will all tee-off at the same time on different holes. 

AMMAN — Young brothers Mousa and Hashem Shannah are making a big impact on the junior golf scene in the UAE where they have finished first and second in the Troon Junior Club Tour, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. 

Nine-year-old Mousa claimed the order of merit title with five tournament wins and two runner-ups. His younger brother Hashem, 6, finished second with one tournament win, two runner-up spots, one third place and three other top six finishes. 

Australia’s Jeff Horn stunned Filipino Manny Pacquiao in a bloody Brisbane battle to claim a unanimous 12-round decision and win the WBO world welterweight title in front of 50,000 fans at Lang Park on Sunday. 

The unheralded 29-year-old former schoolteacher, who improved his record to 17-0-1, was awarded the win over the eight-division world champion by scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113.

“I’m so happy, I can’t explain my feelings,” Horn said at ringside, before welcoming the prospect of a rematch. 

“I’ve just believed since I was very young that I could do this.”

Pacquiao, one of the finest boxers of his generation, paid the price for a slow start and his inability to end the fight with a knockout. 

The 38-year-old was knocked off his stride by the aggression of the taller and heavier Australian in the early rounds but looked to have weathered the storm as the fight wore on and Horn tired. 

With blood pouring from both sides of his forehead after accidental butts, the southpaw launched a fierce assault on Horn which nearly ended the contest in round nine.

“Show me something in this round, or I’m going to stop the fight,” the referee warned the Australian. 

Horn, who was cut above his right eye in round two, said he had been exhausted and rattled by the Filipino’s punches.

“It was hard, hard getting through that round, hard getting hit, getting caught with a shot and then continue on,” Horn said.

“[But] I was like ‘settle down everyone, I’m fine’. I was recovering pretty quickly.”

‘People’s champ’

The Australian showed remarkable powers of recuperation as he battled gamely on through the final three rounds with Pacquiao, who earned the last of his 38 knockouts in 2009, unable to capitalise on his dominance.

The bout ended with the fighters in a clinch on the ropes and although Pacquiao gave a little shuffle 

“Very tough. I didn’t expect that tough,” said Pacquiao, whose record now reads 59-7-2. “It’s okay, it’s part of the game. That’s the decision of the judges, I respect that.”

Pacquiao, who had hoped for an impressive victory to fire talk of another fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr, said he would “absolutely” return for the contracted rematch against Horn. 

An emotional Horn brandished a walking stick as he also called out the undefeated Mayweather, who has come out of retirement at 40 years of age for a 12-round crossover boxing match against mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor.

“This is no joke, which one does he want? The walking stick or the gloves?” the Queenslander said.

The loss stunned people in the Philippines, where Pacquiao, now a high-profile senator, has long been a national hero.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said the loss “would not diminish the honours he bestowed to the people and to the flag”.

“Nothing will change: Senator Manny Pacquiao will remain our People’s Champ,” Abella said.

AMMAN — Jordan has announced a strong five-member team that will compete at the 10th World Games in Wrocław, Poland, from July 20-30, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The five athletes to have come through a tough qualifying period are Lama Qubbaj and Haidar Rasheed (Ju Jitsu), Ali Khalaf and Bara’a Al Abbsi (Kickboxing), and Mohammad Salameh (Muay).

The World Games is a platform for sports and disciplines that are not contested in the Olympic Games, and is organised and governed by the International World Games Association and recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

The first edition of the Games was held in Santa Clara, USA, in 1981 when over 1,745 athletes representing 15 sports took part.

The event has grown with each year and this summer will see over 3,000 athletes from 110 countries compete across 31 sports.

The World Games is held in the year after the Olympic Games with athletes going through a strong qualification process to participate. Jordan has previously won four medals in taekwondo prior to that sport being included onto the Olympic programme.

In 1989, Mohammad Zu’bi and Feras Jaiusi won silver medals in Germany 1989, while Ammar Subaihi took bronze. Four years later Tareq Abu Sbetan won a bronze medal in the Netherlands. 

LONDON — Ferrari’s Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel risks further sanctions after the governing body reexamines his ‘‘road rage’’ clash with Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton in Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Wednesday that it would take another look at the evidence on Monday.

“The FIA will further examine the causes of the incident in order to evaluate whether further action is necessary,” it announced in a statement.

The outcome of that process will be made public before the Austrian Grand Prix weekend of July 7-9. 

Race stewards imposed a 10 second stop and go penalty on Vettel after he hit the back of race leader Hamilton’s car, and then angrily pulled alongside and banged wheels while both were behind the safety car.

They ruled, after an examination of the video evidence, that Vettel had steered into Hamilton in a “potentially dangerous” manoeuvre. 

Some commentators felt the German had got off lightly, with Vettel ultimately finishing fourth and extending his overall lead to 14 points.

Hamilton, who had led comfortably from pole position, finished fifth after having to pit when his headrest material came loose and was angry afterwards.

“For him to pretty much get away with driving into another driver is a disgrace,” Hamilton told reporters. “I think he disgraced himself today.

Vettel accused Hamilton of ‘‘brake testing’’ him by suddenly slowing coming out of Turn 16 as the safety car prepared to return to the pits.

The FIA said on Sunday, however, that the data showed the Briton had “maintained a consistent speed and behaved in the same manner on that occasion as in all the other re-starts during the race”.

The incident has been the talk of Formula One, with considerable debate on the severity of the punishment and fans divided.

“I think the stewards got it right; I wouldn’t have disqualified him or banned him from the next race unless he took Hamilton out of Baku,” said former racer and Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle. 

Others disagreed and highlighted FIA president Jean Todt’s road safety campaign and Vettel’s past history of losing his cool under pressure.

Last October the German escaped sanction after apologising to race director, Charlie Whiting, for aiming an expletive-laden Mexican Grand Prix rant at him over the radio.

Todt decided then, “on an exceptional basis”, to take no disciplinary action against the four-times world champion but the FIA made clear any recurrence would trigger a summons to its International Tribunal.

Vettel refused to accept blame after Sunday’s race while Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene spoke of “some decisions that were not entirely clear”.

AMMAN — Jordan’s learning curve in the world of 3x3 basketball continued at the FIBA U-18 3x3 World Cup in Chengdu, China, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. Just four months ago the sport was not even officially recognised in Jordan, but the newly formed committee accepted a last minute invitation from basketball’s world governing body FIBA to step in for Kyrgyzstan who had to withdraw.

But luck was not on Jordan’s side on Day One as they faced Group D’s top two sides Romania and Belgium. An injury to talisman Abdullah Al Sawalhi during the first match against Romania made life even tougher for Jordan which played well during the 18-9 defeat to the tournament fourth seeds.

With a man down, meaning they were unable to sub during game two, Jordan found the impressive Belgians a tougher proposition and eventually lost 21-3. But it was a landmark day for Jordan which is trying to build the sport following the sport’s inclusion to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

The team has a day off on Thursday to regroup and hope that the injury to Sawalhi will not be as bad as first feared. On Friday they will complete their programme by facing Uganda and Indonesia.